EIFF plan "full-throttle" screening of Cars 3

Pixar and EIFF have long been simpatico. Classics from the much-loved studio, such as WALL-E, Toy Story 3 and Inside Out have all made a splash at the festival in recent years, and now the latest in the Cars series will get its UK premiere at the 2017 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

“Pixar Animation Studios is responsible for some of the greatest animated movies of our time,” said EIFF artistic director Mark Adams, “and we’re thrilled to be continuing our relationship with the studio and providing such a treat for our younger audiences and their families in our 70th anniversary year with Cars 3.”

Not been keeping up with the Cars series? Let us give you a recap: Set in a world of talking automobiles, Owen Wilson voices our hero Lightning McQueen, a bright red NASCAR superstar. In the first film he gets stranded in a desert town on his way to a west-coast championship and learns to enjoy life in the slow lane. The sequel saw Lightning McQueen and his pals head to Europe for the World Grand Prix, where they got embroiled in a spy adventure.

In this new picture, “McQueen is blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers and pushed out of the sport he loves.” A new edition to the cast will be the recently ubiquitous Armie Hammer (he’s six films due out this year, including Free Fire and Call Me by Your Name), who plays McQueen’s rival Jackson Storm.

The film’s story supervisor, Scott Morse, will present the film at Festival Theatre on 25 June, as well as host two special school screenings at Cineworld Edinburgh on 26 June. Delightfully, EIFF has also announced a nationwide drawing competition for children up to 13 years to win tickets to the premiere screening. To enter, you have to come up with your ultimate racing car to compete alongside Lightning McQueen. Winners get tickets to the film screening, and the opportunity to take part in an exclusive story workshop with Scott Morse.

Full details on how to enter can be found at www.edfilmfest.org.uk.